1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

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A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
there is to know about these women, and why they are sent here. It
appears that your master saw this girl in her Hazara home and wished
to have her. She was, however, taken prisoner by mistake along with a
who le tribe from among the mountains, and brought in to our camp. So
when the Commedan found out who she was and what the Colonel’s
intentions were regarding her, he sent her straight on here with these
three women who are to wait on her and be her servants. Do you see,
old owl?”
“Then come inside and leave off those evil cursing ways of yours.” The
door-keeper replied indignantly. “Don’t show at ever y breath how low
your origin happens to be; it is not necessary, any fool can see that at a
glance before yo u ever open your lips.” So saying, he unbolted the
other half of the heavy teak wood door, and admitted them to a scene
the memory of which never passed from Gul Begum’s mind as long as
she lived. It was only a garden planted both with fruit-trees and
flowers, but the girl had never seen a garden before, and, unlike her
more unimpressionable companions, it affected her deeply. For hours,
for days indeed, she had been walking along a burning stony plain,
with here and there at considerable intervals a stream, the borders of
which had been planted with occasional groups of mulberry trees which
had afforded her pleasant shade and a sense of peace. But this was
quite different. It was a fairyland. The sun was just setting and
spreading a flood of golden glory over everything, showing up in
strong relief the graceful forms of the young almond trees on which the
fruit was alread y beginning to show, while beyond them, and forming a
magnificent background, stood great spreading sycamores, so old that
no one knew who had planted them. In the front, at her feet, were
sweet-scented English annuals, and all round her the atmosphere was
laden with the perfume of the delicate pink rose from which the famous
attar is extracted.
She drew a long breath and turned to address the door-keeper, but
stopped again, full of wonder at the overhanging vines, the gnarled
apple trees forming strange and grotesque shapes, and stretching out
weird and ghostly arms in the rapidly increasing shade.
“You had better come to the house,” the old man said. “The ladies will
arrange something for you for to-night. To-morrow, doubtless, we shall
hear from the Colonel what his wishes are regarding you; if there is no
room in the house I can put a tent up for you to-morrow, but for tonight
you will have to manage as best you can; you were not expected.”
“Give me some receipt,” the so ldier said, “that I may show the
Commedan that I have discharged my duties, and have landed the
women here safely.”
“You get nothing from me, you cursing fool,” the old man said testily.
“Go, make what explanations you best can. What care I what your
Commedan has to say to you?”